Latest news with #ProjectSafeNeighborhoodsProgram
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ drug, organized crime task force chief fired
The head of a Justice Department task force dealing with organized crime and drug trafficking was fired by the Trump administration Friday, and he indicated he believes politics may have played a role. Adam Cohen said he was fired by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove after spending weeks working with the Trump team on a new memo concerning the task force. 'Less than 24 hours ago, I received a two-sentence memorandum addressed to me from the Deputy Attorney General (DAG). It stated that I had been removed from my Senior Executive Service position and that pursuant to Article II of the Constitution, my employment with the U.S. Department of Justice was terminated,' Cohen wrote on LinkedIn. 'It was a shock. I had met with the Acting DAG every Tuesday evening (including 3 days before) to talk about important violent crime initiatives. I had spent last weekend editing a memorandum sent out under the DAG's signature 18 hours before my termination.' 'My personal politics were never relevant. Not until yesterday,' Cohen also wrote in the post. 'Putting bad guys in jail was as apolitical as it gets.' The Justice Department on Thursday sent out a memo referencing Cohen's task force, saying it would combine the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. Together, the new entity would be called Operation Take Back America. The memo, signed by Bove, also stresses the need to combat illegal immigration and instructs prosecutors to charge the most serious, 'readily provable' offenses. Cohen spent a little more than a year working in the Biden White House as the deputy director of National Drug Control Policy, but he previously served as director of the task force in the prior Trump administration, tapped to lead it in 2018. The Hill has reached out to the Justice Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
10-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
DOJ drug, organized crime task force chief fired
The head of a Justice Department task force dealing with organized crime and drug trafficking was fired by the Trump administration Friday, and he indicated he believes politics may have played a role. Adam Cohen said he was fired by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove after spending weeks working with the Trump team on a new memo concerning the task force. 'Less than 24 hours ago, I received a two-sentence memorandum addressed to me from the Deputy Attorney General (DAG). It stated that I had been removed from my Senior Executive Service position and that pursuant to Article II of the Constitution, my employment with the U.S. Department of Justice was terminated,' Cohen wrote on LinkedIn. 'It was a shock. I had met with the Acting DAG every Tuesday evening (including 3 days before) to talk about important violent crime initiatives. I had spent last weekend editing a memorandum sent out under the DAG's signature 18 hours before my termination.' 'My personal politics were never relevant. Not until yesterday,' Cohen also wrote in the post. 'Putting bad guys in jail was as apolitical as it gets.' The Justice Department on Thursday sent out a memo referencing Cohen's task force, saying it would combine the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. Together, the new entity would be called Operation Take Back America. The memo, signed by Bove, also stresses the need to combat illegal immigration and instructs prosecutors to charge the most serious, 'readily provable' offenses. The Hill has reached out to DOJ.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged gang member federally charged following attempted murder of his brother on Christmas
SALT LAKE CITY () — An alleged member or associate of a criminal organization appeared in court today after reportedly attempting to murder his brother on Christmas. Javier Pedregon-Magana, 24 — also known by the names 'Big Payaso' and 'Paya' — of West Jordan, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City on Feb. 12, 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. PREVIOUS STORY: Utah man accused of stabbing brother for 'snitching' He is charged with violent crime in aid of racketeering — assault resulting in serious bodily injury, violent crime in aid of racketeering — assault with a dangerous weapon, and violent crime in aid of racketeering — attempted murder. Court documents state that on Dec. 25, 2024, Pedregon-Magana had allegedly engaged in a premeditated attack on his brother and stabbed him seven times. He then reportedly drove the victim's car and attempted to run the victim down while he was fleeing on foot. Documents say that Pedregon-Magana is a member of a criminal street gang (CSG) and that the stabbing had been motivated by his desire to 'restore his good standing with the CSG.' According to documents, Pedregon-Magana told officers that there had been a 'hit' put on his brother as he was suspected of 'snitching.' The suspect also reportedly had hit orders against him, and was ordered to kill his brother in order to clear his own name. The victim needed immediate life-saving medical attention due to receiving multiple stab wounds. The case is being investigated by the Sandy City Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Metro Gang Unit. This case is a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
9 sentenced in East Texas large-scale drug trafficking ring
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Nine people have been sentenced in connection to a large-scale federal drug trafficking ring that operated in East Texas. The U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Texas announced on Monday that in 2021, law enforcement determined the organization was run by Edgar Garcia, Jr., as the primary distributor. Authorities began the investigation to identify who was receiving methamphetamine from Garcia. Gun Barrel City PD looking to help 'all broken hearts' this Valentine's Day 'During the investigation, law enforcement executed residential search warrants, purchased methamphetamine and/or firearms directly from Garcia and other members of his drug trafficking organization, and directed traffic stops to intercept narcotics and firearms being transported for distribution,' the U.S. attorney's office said. 'Ultimately, multiple kilograms of methamphetamine were seized during the operation.' Law enforcement then found almost a dozen firearms, that were sold as part of a narcotics transaction or being used to guard the drugs, from various people within the organization. The attorney's office released the names of those within the organization who have since been sentenced to federal prison. Edgar Garcia, Jr., 26 of Nacogdoches, sentenced to 12 and a half years Justin Michael Sanchez, 33 of Nacogdoches, sentenced to 19 and a half years Beverly Hurst, 26 of Center, sentenced to 12 and a half years Jason Clepper, 36 of Goliad, sentenced to 12 and a half years Blake Trahan, 29 of Center, sentenced to 4 years Austin Yarbrough, 32 of Timpson, sentenced to 15 and a half years Laddarus Perkins, 40 of Timpson, sentenced to 11 years and 3 months Jeanese Fenley, 43 of Timpson, sentenced to 5 years and 10 months Koury Nowell, 49 of Gary City, sentenced to 2 years and 9 months The case was prosecuted as part of a joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. The program is used as a broad spectrum of stakeholders that identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop solutions to address them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
